Childhood Obesity News and Research

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EU-backed projects join forces to tackle obesity crisis

Over the past decades, obesity has reached epidemic proportions, now affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide.

6 Feb 2025

Ultra-processed foods linked to increased obesity risk in preschoolers

Ultraprocessed food consumption in preschoolers is associated with increased body fat, particularly in boys, underscoring the importance of nutrition education.

4 Feb 2025

Self-guided family-based treatment effective for childhood obesity

Family-based behavioral treatment (FBT) is a clinically-proven approach to treating children with obesity in which a health care professional works with the family to help children lose weight by promoting physical activity, encouraging healthy eating habits, and teaching age-appropriate behavioral skills.

29 Jan 2025

Study finds successful treatment of childhood obesity lowers long-term health risks

Effective treatment of childhood obesity significantly lowers long-term health risks, including type 2 diabetes and hypertension, promoting better adult health.

24 Jan 2025

How gut microbiota impacts childhood obesity

Gut microbiota plays a critical role in childhood obesity by influencing energy metabolism, inflammation, and appetite regulation, with emerging therapeutic strategies like probiotics, dietary interventions, and fecal microbiota transplantation showing promise.

21 Jan 2025

Childhood obesity treatment reduces long-term health risks but not depression

When children with obesity undergo weight-loss treatment, the effects have repercussions later in life and the risk of serious health problems and premature death is lower as they reach young adulthood.

21 Jan 2025

Air pollution before conception may increase child BMI

In a study of more than 5,000 mothers and their children, exposure to air pollution during the three months before pregnancy predicted higher child body mass index (BMI) and related obesity risk factors up to two years of age.

15 Jan 2025

Obesity at cancer diagnosis linked to higher risk of death in children

A recent population-based study indicates that among children with cancer, those with obesity at the time of diagnosis may face an elevated risk of dying.

13 Jan 2025

Nutrition progress stalls: Most nations lag behind 2030 goals

Global progress toward nutrition targets is slow, with few countries on track to meet goals for anemia, stunting, and child overweight by 2030, highlighting the urgent need for long-term, multisectoral strategies.

12 Dec 2024

Study links metal exposure to overweight and obesity in children

Researchers from the Granada Biosanitary Research Institute (ibs.GRANADA) and the University od Granada have revealed positive and negative associations between exposure to a combination of different metals and overweight and obesity in children.

11 Dec 2024

Philadelphia beverage tax: Did it curb childhood obesity?

The 2017 Philadelphia beverage tax aimed to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and improve pediatric health. While it significantly reduced sugary drink purchases, its impact on overall pediatric weight was limited, with minor changes observed in specific subgroups.

27 Nov 2024

Better infant growth linked to healthy prenatal diet following USDA guidelines

Findings indicate that a quality prenatal diet is crucial for healthy infant growth, potentially reducing risks of childhood obesity and promoting development.

25 Nov 2024

Study reveals slower fat gain in babies exposed to gestational diabetes

A new study led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and Harvard Medical School reveals surprising findings about how babies exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) grow during their first year of life.

20 Nov 2024

By 2050, two-thirds of adults and one-third of adolescents could face obesity in the US

Rising obesity rates in the USA, particularly among adolescents, pose significant health risks, demanding immediate action and tailored prevention strategies.

19 Nov 2024

Community-led intervention curbs childhood obesity and boosts quality of life

The RESPOND trial adapted to COVID-19 disruptions by shifting to a cluster-parallel randomized design, enabling analysis despite the pandemic's impact on school and community participation rates.

12 Nov 2024

Exposure to flame retardants during pregnancy may affect childhood obesity risk

Exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) - chemicals found in everyday products that use plastics and flame retardants - during pregnancy may have varying effects on the risks of childhood obesity, according to a new study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health.

4 Nov 2024

New Johns Hopkins study shows digital tools help prevent obesity in high-risk young children

A study co-led by a Johns Hopkins Children's Center clinician-researcher shows that adding text messaging and other electronic feedback to traditional in-clinic health counseling for parents about feeding habits, playtime and exercise prevents very young children from developing obesity and potentially lifelong obesity-related problems.

3 Nov 2024